DE SB161

Requires behavioral health treatment provider organizations to obtain licenses from the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to operate programs, with exemptions for private practitioners, children's programs, and certain State-operated or prevention services

Establishes criminal penalties (class A misdemeanor to class F felony) for providing unlicensed treatment services that cause injury, and civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation for non-compliance with licensing requirements

Creates comprehensive client rights including freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation; informed consent for treatment; individualized treatment plans; privacy; and grievance procedures, with additional rights for residential clients such as communication access and voting assistance

Mandates staff reporting of incidents involving abuse, death, exploitation, neglect, or serious injury to the Division, with criminal penalties for intentional failure to report and protections for good-faith reporters against retaliation

Takes effect either 2 years after enactment or upon the Division publishing notice that final implementing regulations have been adopted, whichever occurs first