(a) Any respondent involuntarily committed by the probate court to the custody of the department or designated mental health facility as the court may order, who is entitled to care and treatment at a facility operated by the United States Veterans Administration or other agency of the United States government, may be transferred by the department to the United States Veterans Administration or other agency of the United States on such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the department and the Veterans Administration or other agency. Upon such transfer, the committed respondent shall be subject to the applicable regulations of the Veterans Administration or other agency of the United States.

(b) The chief officer of the Veterans Administration Hospital or other facility operated by the United States to which committed respondents are transferred, as provided in subsection (a) or under the law in effect at the time of commitment, shall have the same powers as are exercised by the directors of state mental health facilities with respect to the retention, transfer, treatment or discharge of committed respondents, and such chief officer and the physicians of such facility shall be exempt from attending court as witnesses in the same manner and to the same extent provided by law for directors and physicians of state mental health facilities.

(c) The judgment or order of commitment by a court of competent jurisdiction of another state or of the District of Columbia committing a respondent to the United States Veterans Administration or other agency of the United States government or any facility operated by such administration or agency for care or treatment shall have the same force and effect as to the respondent while in this state as in the state or district in which is situated the court entering such judgment or making such order.