A) The Master Commissioner of the Pike Circuit Court may hear the following matters: contested divorces, child support, custody and visitation, maintenance pendente lite, termination of parental rights and modification of child support, custody, visitation, and support and maintenance, and such other matters that the Court may from time to time determine to be appropriate for referral.

B) The Master Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner shall receive a fee of Forty Dollars ($40.00) per hour for services performed in the hearing of referred matters, depositions, and the preparation of a Report and Recommendation. The Master Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner shall also be entitled to expenses as per the rules of the Supreme Court of Kentucky.

Fees shall be payable by either party or jointly by the parties at the conclusion of the taking of proof or as soon thereafter as possible with the Commissioner making a Recommendation in his Report and Recommendation as to which party or parties shall be responsible for fees and costs. The Clerk of the Court shall collect any unpaid fees or costs at the time of the entry of the Final Judgment or Decree.

C) Matters heard by the Commissioner shall be reported by a reporter retained by the Commissioner who shall charge a reporter's fee commensurate with the prevailing reporters' fees in the immediate area but in no event more than reporters' fees commensurate with those charged by the Kentucky Shorthand Reporter's Association. The reporter shall be paid by the parties at the conclusion of the taking of proof or as soon thereafter as possible based upon her estimate of the reporting fee. In the event of any overpayment the reporter shall refund that amount to the parties as per their ratio of payment to her.

In the event the matter before the Commissioner is cancelled for any reason by the parties after the reporter has appeared at the office of the Commissioner for the hearing, the reporter shall be allowed an appearance fee of Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00).

D) The Master Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner, if any, shall be engaged in the practice of law in the Pike Circuit Court.

E) The Master Commissioner shall hear all referred matters. In the event the Master Commissioner is unable to hear the matter for any reason or disqualifies, the matter shall be referred to the Deputy Commissioner.

F) The Master Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner shall keep a permanent schedule or calendar of all matters referred to him and shall have all hearings scheduled at a hearing room at his office or at a location convenient to all parties.

G) The Master Commissioner shall spend a minimum of twenty (20) hours per week in the performance of his duties as Commissioner.