The costs of removing an insane prisoner to and from the Alabama state hospitals under any of the provisions of this chapter must be defrayed by the state as in the case of removal of prisoners from one county to another; and such cost, together with the expenses of such patient in the hospital, may be recovered by the state from such person, his estate or any relative who would have been bound to provide for and maintain him elsewhere.
Ala. Code § 15-16-3 (1975)