(a) To be eligible for appointment as an associate judge under this subchapter, a person must:
(1) be a citizen of the United States;
(2) be a resident of this state for the two years preceding the date of appointment; and
(3) be:
(A) eligible for assignment under § 74.054 because the person is named on the list of retired and former judges maintained by the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region under § 74.055;
(B) eligible for assignment under § 25.0022 by the presiding judge of the statutory probate courts; or
(C) licensed to practice law in this state and have at least four years of experience in guardianship proceedings or protective services proceedings before the date of appointment as a practicing attorney in this state or a judge of a court in this state.
(b) An associate judge appointed under this subchapter to serve in one administrative judicial region shall, during the term of appointment, reside in that region or in a county adjacent to that region. An associate judge appointed to serve in two or more administrative judicial regions may reside anywhere in the regions.