Member of Senate, January 8, 2003 to January 10, 2007. Member, Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2003-07 (education subcommittee, 2003-07; environment subcommittee, 2003-07; ethics & election law subcommittee, 2003-07; procurement subcommittee, 2005-07); Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area, 2003-07; Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2003-07. Member, Special Commission on Legislative Prayer, 2003; Joint Committee on Chesapeake Bay Critical Areas, 2003; Senate Special Commission on Medical Malpractice Liability Insurance, 2004. Member, Maryland Green Caucus, 2003-07.
Member, Victim Services Advisory Board, Montgomery County, 1988-90. Legislative Chair, Commission for Women, Montgomery County, 1990-92, 1993- (president, 1992-93). Co-Chair for Paternity, Support, Custody, and Visitation of Attorney General's Advisory Council on Family Legal Needs of Low-income Persons, 1991-92. Member, State Advisory Board for Juvenile Justice, 1995-2000; Family Violence Council, 1995-2005 (co-chair, civil process committee); Task Force to Study the Effects of Cult Activities on Public Senior Higher Education Institutions, 1999; Task Force on Non-Lethal Wildlife Management, 2000-02; Committee on Access to Court Records, 2001-02; Task Force to Study Efficiency in Procurement, 2003; Governor's Commission on Housing Policy, 2003-04 (affordable & accessible housing for individuals with disabilities subcommittee); State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, 2004-07; Task Force to Study Visual Smoke and Evacuation Alarms for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 2005-06; Governor's Council on Family Violence Prevention, 2006-07.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, February 20, 1957. University of California, Santa Barbara; New York University, B.A. (sociology), 1979, M.A. (sociology), 1981; Antioch School of Law, J.D., 1985. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1987. Attorney. Member, Maryland State Bar Association (section of family & juvenile law; special committee on citizenship & law-related education, 2002-); Anne Arundel County Bar Association. Instructor, Department of Sociology, New York University, 1980-81; City University of New York, 1981-82; College of New Rochelle, 1981-82. Staff attorney, legal advocate, Domestic Violence Legal Clinic, House of Ruth, 1985-88. Legislative Chair, Women's Bar Association of Maryland, 1987-92; Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, 1987-92. Advisory Board, Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, 2001-. Legislative Coordinator, Montgomery County National Organization for Women (NOW). Annual Award, Women's Bar Association, 1990. Public Service Award, Montgomery County Government, 1990. Senate Resolution no. 1387, commending work and commitment to victims rights, 1990. Governor's Certificate of Merit for outstanding contributions to victims rights and services, 1991. Pro Bono Service Award, Anne Arundel County Bar Foundation, 1991. Legislative Award for advances in legislation affecting domestic violence victims, Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, 1993. Rita C. Davidson Award, Women's Bar Association of Maryland, 1998. Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2000. State Legislator of the Year, National Child Support Enforcement Association, 2001. Leadership and Outstanding Service Award, Maryland State Bar Association, 2001. Award, Humane Society of the United States, 2001. Maryland Humane Legislator of the Year Award, Fund for Animals, 2002. Legislative Leadership Award, Montgomery County Chapter, National Association for Women (NOW), 2002. Award of Excellence, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 2002. Women of Achievement Award, Suburban Maryland Business and Professional Women, 2004. Beverly Groner Family Law Award, Maryland State Bar Association, 2004. Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award, The ARC of Maryland, 2004. Outstanding Leadership Award, Maryland Association of Community Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, 2004. Certificate of Appreciation, Kensington Mayor and Town Council, 2004. Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding service and support, CHI Centers, Inc., 2005. Humane State Legislator Award, Humane Society of the United States, 2006. Married; two children.
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