An associate judge may include findings or recommendations in a report, but must prepare the report as directed by the referring court and give the parties notice of the report after a hearing.
Sec. 54A.212. REPORT. (a) The associate judge's report may contain the associate judge's findings, conclusions, or recommendations and may be in the form of a proposed order. (b) The associate judge shall prepare a report in the form directed by the referring court, including in the form of: (1) a notation on the referring court's docket sheet or in the court's jacket; or (2) a proposed order. (c) After a hearing, the associate judge shall provide the parties participating in the hearing notice of the substance of the associate judge's report, including any proposed order. (d) Notice may be given to the parties: (1) in open court, by an oral statement, or by providing a copy of the associate judge's written report, including any proposed order; (2) by certified mail, return receipt requested; (3) by facsimile transmission; or (4) by electronic mail. (e) There is a rebuttable presumption that notice is received on the date stated on: (1) the signed return receipt, if notice was provided by certified mail; (2) the confirmation page produced by the facsimile machine, if notice was provided by facsimile transmission; or (3) a printout evidencing submission of the electronic mail message, if notice was provided by electronic mail. (f) After a hearing conducted by an associate judge, the associate judge shall send the associate judge's signed and dated report, including any proposed order, and all other papers relating to the case to the referring court. Transferred, redesignated and amended from Government Code, Subchapter G, Chapter 54 by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 6.02, eff. January 1, 2012.