(1) Whenever it is determined by the court that a person meets the criteria for involuntary placement and it appears that such person is eligible for care or treatment by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other agency of the United States Government, the court, upon receipt of a certificate from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or such other agency showing that facilities are available and that the person is eligible for care or treatment therein, may place that person with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other federal agency. The person whose placement is sought shall be personally served with notice of the pending placement proceeding in the manner as provided in this part, and nothing in this section shall affect his or her right to appear and be heard in the proceeding. Upon placement, the person shall be subject to the rules and regulations of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other federal agency.

(2) The judgment or order of placement by a court of competent jurisdiction of another state or of the District of Columbia, placing a person with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other federal agency for care or treatment, shall have the same force and effect in this state as in the jurisdiction of the court entering the judgment or making the order; and the courts of the placing state or of the District of Columbia shall be deemed to have retained jurisdiction of the person so placed. Consent is hereby given to the application of the law of the placing state or district with respect to the authority of the chief officer of any facility of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other federal agency operated in this state to retain custody or to transfer, parole, or discharge the person.

(3) Upon receipt of a certificate of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or such other federal agency that facilities are available for the care or treatment of mentally ill persons and that the person is eligible for care or treatment, the administrator of the receiving or treatment facility may cause the transfer of that person to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other federal agency. Upon effecting such transfer, the committing court shall be notified by the transferring agency. No person shall be transferred to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other federal agency if he or she is confined pursuant to the conviction of any felony or misdemeanor or if he or she has been acquitted of the charge solely on the ground of insanity, unless prior to transfer the court placing such person enters an order for the transfer after appropriate motion and hearing and without objection by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

(4) Any person transferred as provided in this section shall be deemed to be placed with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other federal agency pursuant to the original placement.

History.—s. 15, ch. 14579, 1929; CGL 1936 Supp. 2146(16); s. 1, ch. 21795, 1943; s. 4, ch. 84-62; s. 18, ch. 93-268; s. 711, ch. 95-148; s. 19, ch. 96-169.

Note.—Former s. 293.16.