Prevention of child sexual abuse deemed priority of state – Comprehensive approach – Purpose and construction of part

(a) The general assembly finds and declares that: (A) A person under eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 37-1-102State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105Statute: A law passed by a legislature.(1) The incidence of child sexual abuse has a tremendous impact on the victimized child, siblings, family structure, and inevitably on all citizens of this state; (2) The detection, intervention, prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse, including a focus on the sexual abuse that occurs within the home, shall be a priority of this state; (3) Sexual abuse in any form is destructive to the physical and mental health of a child; (4) Ninety-three percent (93%) of all sexual abuse is inflicted by a family member or acquaintance in the child’s home environment; (5) It is necessary that curriculum addressing sexual abuse include a focus on the in-home abuse; and (6) A comprehensive approach for the detection, intervention, prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse, including such abuse that may occur in the home, should be developed for the state and that this planned, comprehensive approach should be used as a basis for funding. (b) The purpose of this part shall be the same as that of part 4 of this chapter, and, except as may be expressly herein provided, the provisions of this part shall not be construed as repealing any provisions of part 4 of this chapter or of any other statute, but shall be supplementary thereto and cumulative thereof.