Chat with a Lawyer: Delegate Joseline A. Pena-Melnykon Mental Health and Health Care Issues in Maryland
Meet Delegate Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk
Member of House of Delegates since January 10, 2007. Member, Health and Government Operations Committee, 2007- (government operations subcommittee, 2007-14; public health & long-term care subcommittee, 2007-14; government operations & long-term care subcommmittee, 2015-; chair, public health & minority health disparities subcommittee, 2015-). Member, Regional Revitalization Work Group, 2013-; Joint Oversight Committee on the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, 2014-; Public Safety and Policing Work Group, 2015-; Joint Committee on Behavioral Health and Opioid Use Disorders, 2015-. House Chair, Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services, 2011-14. Chair, Bi-County Committee, Prince George’s County Delegation, 2013-14 (vice-chair, law enforcement & state-appointed boards committee, 2007-08, member, 2015-; vice-chair, county affairs committee, 2008-10; chair, washington suburban sanitary commission committee, 2011-12). Prince George’s County Co-Chair, Bi-County Delegation, 2011-14. Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, 2007-; Women Legislators of Maryland, 2007-. Chair, Maryland Latino Legislative Caucus, 2014-.
Member, Task Force on Health Care Access and Reimbursement, 2007-08; Task Force on the Preservation of Heritage Language Skills in Maryland, 2008-09. House Co-Chair, Task Force to Study the Procurement of Health and Social Services by State Agencies, 2009-10; Task Force to Study the Procurement of Health, Education, and Social Services by State Agencies, 2010-12; Governor’s Wellmobile Program Advisory Board, 2011-. Presidential Elector, Maryland, 2012. Member, Virginia L. Jones Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Council, 2013-; Governor’s Commission to Reform Maryland’s Pretrial System, 2014; Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee, 2015-.
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, U.S. Department of Justice, 1997-99.
Member, City Council, College Park, representing District 4, 2003-06. Former member, Recreation Board, College Park.
Born in Dominican Republic, June 27, 1966. Attended John F. Kennedy High School, Bronx, New York; Buffalo State College, B.A. (criminal justice), 1987; University at Buffalo School of Law, State University of New York, J.D., 1991. Admitted to District of Columbia Bar, 1994; Pennsylvania Bar, 1994. Attorney, Defender Association of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1991-92. Co-Chair, Latino Leadership Council, Maryland Democratic Party, 2010-. Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 2012. Eastern Region Board of Directors, Women in Government. Member, North College Park Civic Association; West College Park Civic Association; College Park Rotary Club. Rising Legal Star, Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia, 2007. Municipal Super Star, Maryland Municipal League, 2008 (certificate of appreciation, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011). Maryland’s Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2015. Married; three children.
Contact Info
Democrat, District 21, Anne Arundel & Prince George’s Counties
House Office Building, Room 425
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: (410) 841-3502 / (301) 858-3502 / 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3502 (toll free)
Fax: (410) 841-3342 / (301) 858-3342
E-mail: joseline.pena.melnyk@house.state.md.us