Patients admitted to a state hospital prior to July 1, 1969, and all patients judicially committed or remanded, may be transferred to a like institution at the request of relatives or friends, if there is room in the like institution to which transfer is sought and if the department or departments having jurisdiction over such institutions and the medical directors of the institutions from which and to which the transfer is to be made consent thereto. The expense of such transfer shall be paid by such relatives or friends.