Upon receipt of a certificate of the veterans administration or other agency of the United States that facilities are available for the care or treatment of any person theretofore committed to any hospital or other institution for the care or treatment of persons with mental illness and that the person is eligible for care or treatment, the superintendent of the institution may cause the transfer of the person to the veterans administration or other agency of the United States for care or treatment. Upon effecting any transfer, the committing court or proper court officer shall be notified of the transfer by the transferring agency. No person shall be transferred to the veterans administration or other agency of the United States if he or she be confined pursuant to 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 or other authority originally committing the person shall enter an order for such transfer after appropriate motion and hearing.