Shane Pendergrass

Shane Pendergrass is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. She is serving in her seventh term in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Maryland's District 13 in Howard County. She currently serves as Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee.

Shane Pendergrass
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 13
Assumed office
January 11, 1995
ConstituencyDistrict 13, Howard County
Personal details
BornLos Angeles, California
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceColumbia, Maryland

Political career

Shane Pendergrass began her career in government and politics as a community activist for slower growth and an adequate number of public schools in the county. She was elected to the Howard County Council in 1986 and served until 1994, when she won a seat representing Maryland's Legislative District 13 [1] in the Maryland General Assembly.

Pendergrass served as Vice Chair of the Health and Government Operations (HGO) Committee [2] from 2007 to 2016, until she was appointed Chair in 2017. During her tenure on the HGO committee, she has served in various capacities. Since 2003, she has been a member of the Insurance Subcommittee, including serving as chair from 2005 to 2016. From 2015 to 2016, she was a member of the Estates and Trusts Committee; from 2007 to 2015, she was on the Health Facilities & Occupations Subcommittee; in 2006, she was member of the Minority Health Disparities Subcommittee; from 2003 to 2005, she was a member of the Pharmaceuticals Subcommittee and the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing; in 2005, she chaired the Health Occupations Subcommittee; and from 2003 to 2004, she served on the Long Term Care Subcommittee.

Pendergrass served on the Economic Matters Committee from 1995 to 2002, including as Vice Chair of the Science and Technology Subcommittee from 1999 until 2002, when she was assigned to the newly created Health and Government Operations Committee.

Pendergrass served as the House of Delegates' Deputy Majority Leader in 2007. She has also served since 2007 on the Legislative Policy Committee , which supervises and coordinates the standing committees of the General Assembly, and the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee . In 2014, she served on the Joint Oversight Committee of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. From 2005 to 2007, she was a member of the Task Force to Study Electronic Health Records and of the Joint Legislative Task Force on Small Group Market Health Insurance. In 2004, she was a member of the House Medical Malpractice Workgroup. She is a member of the Women's Caucus. She has served as chair of the Howard County Delegation from 1997-2000, 2005-2006 and 2015-2016.

Pendergrass' committee assignments led her to develop an interest and expertise in health insurance issues. Over the course of her legislative career, she has sponsored numerous bills with the goal of making health care accessible and effective for Marylanders, including a 2001 bill to provide affordable prescription drug coverage to seniors. That bill was ultimately incorporated into a comprehensive health bill that became law. In 2007, she was among the first legislators to begin advocating for Electronic Health Records, including sponsoring a law passed in 2008 that allowed for electronic signatures. Pendergrass also sponsored successful legislation halting the proposed conversion of CareFirst Blue Cross/Blue Shield to a for-profit company, and a subsequent bill establishing increased oversight of the CareFirst Board of Directors. She was active in the Medical Malpractice workgroup and sponsored a successful law in 2006 requiring public reporting of Healthcare-Associated Infections rates in the state-mandated "Hospital Report Card."

Legislative Notes
  • Sponsored a bill (HB1083) in 2017 to make $2.7 million available for family planning through Planned Parenthood, guaranteeing women access to health care in the event the federal government revokes Title X funding.
  • Has sponsored the End of Life Option Act, which would allow terminally ill adult patients to take medication to aid in dying under certain conditions. This bill was unsuccessful in the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019 General Assembly sessions. In the 2019 General Assembly session, however, the bill HB0399 passed in the House of Delegates but failed in a tie vote in the Senate. (2020 : HB643; 2019 : HB399 ; 2017: HB 370 ; 2016: HB 0404 ; and 2015: HB 1021 )
  • Sponsored a bill (HB0403) in 2017 that allows exceptions to the prohibition on doctors referring patients to health-care entities where they have a compensation arrangement. The goal is better coordination of patient care. The Maryland Insurance Commissioner reviews all exceptions.
  • Co-sponsored a bill (HB1325) in 2017 that bans hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in Maryland.
  • Co-sponsored a bill (HB0429) in 2017 that ensures that physical resistance is not needed to prove a sexual crime has been committed.
  • Co-sponsored the Maryland Defense Act of 2017 (HB0913) , which authorizes the Attorney General to sue the federal government to defend the welfare and public interests of Maryland residents.
  • Sponsored a bill (HB0356) in 2016 to create a pilot project, using a federal grant, that would offer incentives for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to buy and eat more fruits and vegetables.
  • Co-sponsored the Civil Marriage Protection Act (HB 438) in 2012 to legalize same-sex marriage.
  • Co-sponsored several bills related to the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Act, including its creation in 2011 (HB 166), privacy and security of medical records (HB 784), and updates in 2012 (HB 443) to add dental and vision plans.
  • Sponsored a bill (HB 196) to repeal Computer Service Sales Tax in 2008's Special Session
  • Co-sponsored Motor Vehicle Excise Tax exemption for returning military members in 2008 (HB669)
  • Sponsored a bill (HB 510) in 2008 that allowed for electronic signatures on medical documents.
  • Voted in favor of mortgage reform bills in 2008 to increase oversight of mortgage-lending industry and to establish preemptive measures to help homeowners at risk of foreclosure (HB360, HB 361, & HB 365) , ,
  • Voted in 2007 for in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants who graduate from Maryland high schools after attending for at least two years, whose parents pay Maryland taxes and who commit to apply for permanent resident status 30 days after becoming eligible to do so (HB6)
  • Voted in favor the Tax Reform Act of 2007(HB2)

Early life, education and career

Pendergrass was born in Los Angeles, CA. She graduated from Fenger High School in Chicago. At the University of Illinois, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Art, graduating cum laude, and a Master of Arts. She was an art instructor at Aurora University and an art therapist and program coordinator at Edgemont Psychiatric Hospital Children's Unit. Later, she was an art instructor at Severn School, Severna Park, MD. She also worked as a professional artist for many years. She lives in Columbia with her husband, Bill Pendergrass. They have two children and three grandchildren

Awards
  • 2013 Public Policy Champion of the Year, Maryland Works Inc.
  • 2012 Outstanding Conservation Award, Audubon Society of Central Maryland, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012
  • 2009 Certificate of Appreciation, Howard County NAACP Youth Council
  • 2007 The Ruth Keeton Award for Dedicated Service to the Citizens of Howard County, Howard County Women's Bar Association
  • 2006 Advocacy Award, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
  • 2005 Maryland's Top 100 Women, The Daily Record
  • 2003 Senator James Clark Award for distinguished public service to the people of Columbia, Howard County Democratic Party
  • 2000 Tera Partner Award for spearheading creation of Howard County Technology Incubator, Center for Business and Technology Development

General election results, 2006
  • 2006 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – 13th District[3]
Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Guy Guzzone, Democratic 26,891   22.3%    Won
Shane Pendergrass, Democratic 26,633   22.1%    Won
Frank S. Turner, Democratic 24,437   20.3%    Won
Mary Beth Tung, Republican 15,216   12.6%    Lost
Rick Bowers, Republican 13,665   11.4%    Lost
Loretta Gaffney, Republican 13,466   11.2%    Lost
other write-ins 84   0.1%    Lost
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References
  1. http://www.mdp.state.md.us/MSDC/Redist/Legd92/92ld13id.htm. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "Committees - Health and Government Operations Committee". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  3. "House of Delegates Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved on July. 21, 2007

"Maryland Manual Online". Maryland State Archives. 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-17.

  • Maryland's page on Delegate Pendergrass
  • Delegate Pendergrass' official campaign page
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