Section 402. Children forbidden in public homes

No public welfare
  official shall send a child to be cared for in a  public  home,  and  no
  commissioner  of  public  welfare and no superintendent of a public home
  shall receive a child in a public home, except that a  child  under  the
  age  of  two  years  may  be cared for with his mother in a public home.
  Such child shall not remain in the public  home  after  he  becomes  two
  years  of  age.    Provided,  however,  that  when  so authorized by the
  department a child may be sent to a general hospital  connected  with  a
  public  home  or  to  a separate institution located in the grounds of a
  public home used  only  for  special  or  temporary  care  of  children.
  Provided,  further,  that  the  provisions  of this section shall not be
  deemed to prohibit the placement  of  a  child  or  minor  in  a  public
  institution   for   children,   as  defined  in  section  three  hundred
  seventy-one of this chapter.