Current law provides that chief district judges, under the general supervision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, have administrative authority and supervision over the operation of district courts and magistrates in their respective districts. Current law also allows chief district judges to delegate their authorityto prescribe the time and place at which magistrates in a particular county must be available to perform their duties.Amends GS 7A-146 to authorize chief district judges todesignate a full-time magistrate in a county to serve as chief magistrate and to delegate their administrative authority to the appointed chief magistrate. Applies only to counties in which the chief district judge determines that designating a chief magistrate is in the interest of justice.