Section 201.204 - General Powers of Associate Judge(a) On the motion of a party or the associate judge, an associate judge may refer a complex case back to the referring court for final disposition after recommending temporary orders for the protection of a child.(b) An associate judge may render and sign any pretrial order.(c) An associate judge may recommend to the referring court any order after a trial on the merits.(d) An associate judge may hear and render an order in a suit for the adoption of a child for whom the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has been named managing conservator.(e) An associate judge may hear and render an order in a suit referred to the associate judge by a juvenile court under Section 51.04, subject to the limitations placed on the associate judge's authority in the order of referral.Amended by Acts 2019, Texas Acts of the 86th Leg.- Regular Session, ch. 660,Sec. 3, eff. 9/1/2019.Amended by Acts 2017, Texas Acts of the 85th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 912,Sec. 1.04, eff. 9/1/2017.Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1258, Sec. 18, eff. 9/1/2003.Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1302, Sec. 12, eff. 9/1/1999.