§43A-8-108.

§43A-8-108.
   
   A patient committed to a private hospital or institution under the
   provisions of this act may be transferred to a state or federal
   hospital for the mentally ill at any time prior to discharge. The
   request for transfer shall be made to the superintendent of the state
   hospital in the district serving the county of residence of the
   patient. The request for transfer may be made by the attending
   physician, the person in charge of the private hospital or
   institution, or the petitioner, relative, or guardian of the patient.
   All documents pertaining to the commitment of the patient to the
   private hospital or institution, and an abstract of the clinical
   history of the patient during treatment at the private hospital or
   institution, shall be forwarded with the patient at the time of
   transfer. The sheriff of the county in which the patient is
   hospitalized is authorized to transport the patient to the state
   hospital, and the expense of conveying the patient will be borne
   whenever possible by the petitioner, relative, or guardian; otherwise,
   the sheriff or his deputy shall be reimbursed for necessary travel
   expenses and subsistence as provided by law for other official
   business. A female attendant must accompany a sheriff transporting a
   female patient.