DEFINITION

(a) In this subchapter, "qualifying county" means a county that: (1) on or after the effective date of this subchapter does not initiate or become a party to a suit against the state or a state agency or state official, the subject of which is the reimbursement of the county for the confinement of inmates in the county jail who are awaiting transfer to the institutional division following conviction of a felony or revocation of probation, parole, or release on mandatory supervision; and (2) if, before the effective date of this subchapter, it was a party to a suit in state court described by Subdivision (1), has before the 31st day after the effective date of this subchapter: (A) had the county's suit vacated and dismissed by the court; (B) had the county's suit abated by the court, by entry of an abatement order that specifically provides that: (i) the suit may not be reactivated except before September 1, 1997, and except on a finding by the court that the state has substantially failed to perform a duty imposed under this subchapter; (ii) the county is barred from any claim for reimbursement for the cost of confining inmates on and after the effective date of this subchapter and until September 1, 1995, other than reimbursement specified in this subchapter; and (iii) if the suit is not reactivated before September 1, 1997, the court shall vacate and dismiss the suit on that date; or (C) had the county's suit settled by written agreement. (b) For the purposes of this section, a court retains jurisdiction over a case in which the court has entered an abatement order during the period in which the case is abated.