§44-15-14. Commitment to veterans administration or other agency of United States government.

Whenever it appears that a veteran of any war, military occupation or expedition is eligible for care or treatment by the veterans administration or other agency of the United States government, and commitment thereto is necessary for the proper treatment and care of such veteran, the county court, the county mental hygiene commission, or other tribunal or commission in lieu of either thereof, of the county in which such person is found, upon receipt of a certificate from the veterans administration or such other agency showing that facilities are available and that such person is eligible for care or treatment therein, may commit such person to the veterans administration or other agency of the United States government for care or treatment. Thereafter, such person, upon admission to any such facility, shall be subject to the rules and regulations of the veterans administration or other agency of the United States government. The chief officer of any such facility or institution to which such person is committed under the provisions of this section shall be vested with the same powers now exercised by officials of state hospitals for mental diseases within this state with respect to the retention, transfer, parole or discharge of persons so committed. Notice of such pending commitment proceedings shall be furnished the person whose commitment is sought, and his right to appear and defend shall not be denied. The judgment or order of commitment by a court of competent jurisdiction of another state committing a person to the veterans administration or other agency of the United States government for care or treatment, shall have the same force and effect as to such person while in this state as in the state in which is situated the court entering such judgment or making such order.

Upon receipt of a certificate of the veterans administration or other agency of the United States government that facilities are available for the care or treatment of any person heretofore or hereafter committed to any hospital for the insane or other institution in this state for the care of persons similarly afflicted; and that such person is eligible for care or treatment by the veterans administration or other agency of the United States, the superintendent of any such hospital or institution in this state is hereby authorized to cause the transfer of any such person to the veterans administration or other agency of the United States government for care or treatment. Upon effecting any such transfer, the committing court, commission or tribunal shall be notified thereof by the transferring agency: Provided, however, That no person shall be transferred if he be confined pursuant to conviction of any crime or misdemeanor, or if he shall have been acquitted of any such charge solely on the ground of insanity, unless prior to such transfer the court originally committing such person shall enter an order for such transfer after appropriate motion and hearing.

Any person transferred as provided in this section shall be deemed to be committed to the veterans administration or other agency of the United States government pursuant to the original commitment the same as if he had been originally so committed.