Admission to the home shall be granted to resident children of the state under seventeen years of age, as follows, giving preference in the order named:

1. 1. Neglected or dependent children committed by the juvenile court.
2. 2. Other destitute children.

[C97, §2685; S13, §2685; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3699, 3708; C46, §243.2, 244.3; C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §244.3; 82 Acts, ch 1260, §31] 85 Acts, ch 21, §39 C93, §233B.3