The bill, H.B. No. 20, aims to enhance measures to prevent and reduce fraudulent charitable solicitations during disasters in Texas. It introduces a new section, 418.0431, to the Government Code, which mandates the creation of educational materials by the division, in collaboration with the consumer protection division of the attorney general's office, to help the public identify and avoid fraudulent solicitations during disasters. Additionally, the bill establishes a voluntary certification program for disaster relief organizations under a new Subchapter L, which includes definitions, eligibility criteria, and procedures for certification, application, and maintenance of a public registry of certified organizations.

The attorney general is tasked with administering this certification program, which is designed to assist the public in identifying reputable organizations for donations during declared disasters. Participation in the program is voluntary, meaning organizations are not required to obtain certification to solicit donations. The bill also stipulates that state or local governmental entities must consider an organization's certification status when evaluating applications for state funding related to disaster relief efforts. The act is set to take effect 91 days after the legislative session concludes.

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