(a) Any mentally disabled person who desires care in a facility may make appropriate application directly to any facility willing and able to receive him, or to the administrator of the county where the person is or resides, for placement in a facility.

(b) Any person authorized by this act to do so may make application on behalf of a mentally disabled person directly to any facility willing and able to receive such person. If no such facility is available, or if public funds will or may be expended to pay all or part of the cost of care of such person under a county mental health and intellectual disability program, application shall be made to the administrator of the county where the person is or resides for placement in a facility, except that applications for detention under section 405¹ must be made to the administrator.

(c) Whenever a court commits any person under any provision of this act, it may commit such person directly to a facility willing and able to receive him; otherwise, the court shall commit to a designated local or State facility, or to the Veterans Administration or other agency of the United States upon receipt of a certificate that the person is eligible for such hospitalization and there is available space for his care.