Construction of chapter

This chapter must be construed using the following rules: (1) The protections of the fundamental right of parents to the care, custody, and control of their child afforded by this chapter are in addition to the protections provided under federal law, state law, and the state constitution; (2) This chapter must be construed in favor of a broad protection of the fundamental right of parents to the custody, care, and control of their children, including the right to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their child; (3) This act does not give parents a right to medical treatments for their children that have been prohibited by state law; (4) State law enacted after July 1, 2024, is subject to this chapter unless the law explicitly excludes such application by reference to this chapter; and (5) The enumeration of parental rights in this chapter must not be construed to abridge any additional parental rights codified or recognized under current law or to prohibit the codification or recognition of additional parental rights. Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1061,s 1, eff. 7/1/2024.

This chapter must be construed using the following rules:

(1) The protections of the fundamental right of parents to the care, custody, and control of their child afforded by this chapter are in addition to the protections provided under federal law, state law, and the state constitution;

(2) This chapter must be construed in favor of a broad protection of the fundamental right of parents to the custody, care, and control of their children, including the right to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their child;

(3) This act does not give parents a right to medical treatments for their children that have been prohibited by state law;

(4) State law enacted after July 1, 2024, is subject to this chapter unless the law explicitly excludes such application by reference to this chapter; and

(5) The enumeration of parental rights in this chapter must not be construed to abridge any additional parental rights codified or recognized under current law or to prohibit the codification or recognition of additional parental rights.

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1061,s 1, eff. 7/1/2024.