Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 53.1-70.1 as follows:

§53.1-70.1. Transport of prisoners; authority.

The sheriff or administrator in charge of a local or regional correctional facility where a prisoner is incarcerated and employees of such facility acting on the direction of the sheriff or administrator shall have the authority to transport the prisoner to another jurisdiction inside or outside the Commonwealth for any lawful purpose and to retain authority over such prisoner.