(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), the fifty-sixth district consists of the counties of Barry and Eaton, is a district of the first class, and is divided into the following election divisions:

    (a) The first division consists of the county of Barry and has 1 judge.

    (b) The second division consists of the county of Eaton and has 2 judges.

    (2) Effective January 1, 1999, if the county of Eaton approves the creation of the fifty-sixth-a district pursuant to law, and if the county of Barry approves the creation of the fifty-sixth-b district pursuant to law, both of the following apply:

    (a) The fifty-sixth-a district consists of the county of Eaton, is a district of the first class, and has 2 judges.

    (b) The fifty-sixth-b district consists of the county of Barry, is a district of the first class, and has 1 judge.