Maria Collett

Maria Collett (born on July 21, 1974) is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate who represents the 12th District. Her district includes portions of eastern Montgomery County and southern Bucks County. Collett is the first Greek American woman to serve in the Pennsylvania State Senate.

Maria Collett
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 12th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2019 (2019-01-01)
Preceded byStewart Greenleaf
ConstituencyParts of Montgomery and Bucks Counties
Personal details
Born (1974-07-21) July 21, 1974
Athens, Greece
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Len Collett
ResidenceLower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania
Alma materUniversity of Maryland (B.A.)
Rutgers Law School (J.D.)
Drexel University (BSN)
ProfessionNurse, Attorney
Website

Political career

2018

In 2018, Collett ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the election to succeed retiring State Senator Stewart Greenleaf, who had represented the 12th District since 1979.[1] Collett defeated Stewart Greenleaf Jr., Greenleaf's son and a former Controller for Montgomery County, in the November 6 general election.[2] Her victory was part of the "blue wave" that increased Democratic and female representation in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Congressional delegation.

Committee assignments

For the 2021-2022 Session Collett sits on the following committees in the Senate:[3]

  • Aging and Youth - Minority Chair
  • Community, Economic, and Recreational Development
  • Judiciary
  • Local Government
  • Rules & Executive Nominations

Caucuses

Collett is a member of the following caucuses:

  • Senate Arts & Culture
  • Autism & Intellectual Disabilities
  • Senate Brain Injury
  • Climate
  • Film Industry
  • LGBT Equality
  • PA Safe
  • Rare Disease
  • Senate Women's Health Caucuses.

Councils and task forces

Collett serves on the following councils, committees, and task forces:

  • Asian American Coalition for Healthcare Services Advisory Board
  • Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee [4]
  • Legislative Audit Advisory Commission
  • Montgomery County Aging and Adult Services Council[5]
  • Pennsylvania Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts[6]
  • Pennsylvania Children's Health Advisory Council[7]
  • Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Council[8]
  • Special Education Funding Commission[9]
  • Suicide Prevention Task Force[10]

Legislative priorities

As a State Senator, Collett has focused on the issues of PFAS contamination throughout her district,[11][12][13] nurse staffing ratios,[14][15] the statute of limitations for sexual crimes,[16] gender equity,[17] and firearm regulation.[18][19]

Career

Collett began her career as an attorney representing the interests of children victimized by abuse and neglect as a Deputy Attorney General in Camden County, New Jersey. She then transitioned to a career in nursing, where she worked at the bedside as a Level I trauma nurse, in pediatric home health and in long-term care working with aging adults. Most recently, she worked as a nurse educator, helping other nurses understand how to administer Medicaid programs.

In the 2021-2022 Legislative Session, Collett was elected by her colleagues in the Senate Democratic Caucus to the position of Caucus Secretary.[20]

Education

Collett attended the University of Maryland, College Park where she earned a BA in English Literature, going on the earn a JD at Rutgers Law School and then a BSN at Drexel University.

References
  1. Sokil, Dan (May 7, 2018). "No primary challenges in local Pennsylvania Senate races". North Penn Life. MontgomeryNews.com. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  2. "Collett defeats Greenleaf Jr., flips 12th District Senate seat to Dems". Bucks County Courier Times. November 6, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  3. "Senator Maria Collett". Senate of Pennsylvania.
  4. "Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee". Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  5. "Advisory Council". Montgomery County Pennsylvania Website. Montgomery County of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  6. "Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts". The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  7. "Advisory Council". PA.GOV. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  8. "Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Council". Pennsylvania Department of Aging. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  9. "SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING COMMISSION RECONSTITUTED". Pennsylvania Senate Republicans. Pennsylvania Senate Republicans.
  10. Citation Needed
  11. Hurdle, Jon (24 January 2019). "Pa. might set maximum limits on a toxic chemical in drinking water. Some ask: What's there to decide?". WHYY. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  12. Hardison, Elizabeth (17 April 2019). "What are PFAS chemicals and what is Pennsylvania doing about them?". Penn Capital-Star. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  13. Heinze, Justin (23 April 2019). "How Much PFAS Is Safe? PA Bill Would Lower Drinking Water Limit". Patch. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  14. Hamburg, Daniel (20 March 2019). "Pennsylvania nurses rally for law to set safe patient limits". ABC News. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  15. Caruso, Stephen (22 March 2019). "Rules limiting nursing workload brought back to Harrisburg". Penn Capital-Star. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  16. Heinze, Justin (9 April 2019). "PA Seeks To Eliminate Statute Of Limitations For Sexual Crimes". Patch.
  17. Hardison, Elizabeth (2 April 2019). "It's Equal Pay Day. Here's how Pa. lawmakers want to close the gender wage gap". Penn Capital-Star. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  18. Heinze, Justin (11 March 2019). "The bill would allow local governments to enact ordinances to restrict firearms at facilities they own". Patch. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  19. Hardison, Elizabeth (14 March 2019). "Local officials would be able to ban guns on public grounds under state Senate proposal". Penn Capital-Star. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  20. Hardison, Elizabeth (19 November 2020). "Senate Dems reshuffle leadership ranks, promoting two progressive women from the Philly 'burbs". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
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