TX HB20

Establishes a designation program administered by the Secretary of State allowing political subdivisions to designate nonprofit organizations or financial institutions to solicit and accept disaster relief donations during declared disasters (federal, state, or local declarations)

Requires each political subdivision to publish the designated organization's contact information on its website along with information to help residents avoid fraudulent charitable solicitations during disasters

Creates a state jail felony for theft of property valued under $30,000 when stolen in a disaster area by someone acting as or claiming to be a disaster volunteer, with the penalty not subject to standard elderly victim enhancements

Increases theft penalties to state jail felony level for property under $30,000 stolen by disaster volunteers from disaster areas, defining disaster volunteers as those providing or offering free services to disaster victims or governmental disaster response entities

Establishes a new criminal offense for malicious solicitation of disaster victims or for disaster response/recovery purposes (Section 32.61 of Penal Code)