The Disaster Scam Response Act is designed to enhance consumer protection against fraudulent charitable solicitations and theft during disasters. It establishes a voluntary accreditation program for disaster relief organizations, which will be managed by the attorney general in collaboration with relevant divisions. The act requires the creation of educational materials to help the public recognize and avoid scams, and it sets up a fraud hotline for reporting suspicious activities. Additionally, the bill outlines eligibility criteria for organizations seeking accreditation and details the processes for application, renewal, and revocation of such accreditations.

Furthermore, the bill amends the Penal Code to introduce new criminal offenses related to malicious solicitation during disasters, increases penalties for theft in disaster areas, and defines "disaster area." It creates a civil cause of action for malicious solicitation, allowing victims to seek damages, and specifies that individuals engaging in such solicitation can be held liable to the donee and the donor. The act also stipulates that a prevailing donee or donor can recover 300 percent of the donations collected, along with reasonable attorney's fees. The provisions of the bill will take effect 91 days after the legislative session concludes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 31.03 (Penal Code 31)