Helen L. Koss (1922-2008)
MSA SC 3520-1947

Biography:

Born Helen Levine in New York, NY, June 3, 1922.  Attended public schools of Ellenville, New York; Bennington College. A.B., 1942. Married to Howard Koss; two daughters: Deborah K. Chasanow and Tamar Bernbaum. Died September 28, 2008.

General Assembly:
House of Delegates, Montgomery County, 1971-86.  Chair, Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee, 1979-87.  Member, Elections Subcommittee, 1971-87; chair, 1972-79.  Chair, Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, 1972-79.  Member, Legislative Policy Committee, 1979-87; Rules and Executive Nominations Committee.

Private Career and Other Public Service:
Member, Montgomery County Health and Welfare Council, 1958-61; Montgomery County Commission on Youth. 1959-61.  Chair, Reapportionment and Constitutional Studies Committee, 1959-63.  Member, Montgomery County Advisory Committee on Special Youth Needs, 1962-63.  State president, League of Women Voters of Maryland, 1963-67.  Member, Governor's Commission on Crime and Delinquency; Governor's Commission to Study Reapportionment of the General Assembly, 1963.  Delegate, 1967 Constitutional Convention of Maryland.  Chair, Committee on on Suffrage and Elections.  Member, Board of Visitors, Bowie State College, 1970-76; Governor's Commission to Study the Public Service Commission Law, 1977; Maryland Highway Safety Coordinating Committee, 1979-87; Governor's Task Force on State Procurement Regulations, 1980; Executive/Legislative Committee to Study the Feasibility of a Biennial Budget, 1985; Commission to Review the Election Laws, 1985-87.  Co-chair, Task Force on Election Laws.  Member, National Order of Women Legislators; Committee on Ethics and Elections of the National Conference of State Legislators.  Chair, State Administrative Board of Election Laws, 1995-2000.  Member, Special Study Commission on the Maryland Public Ethics Law, 1998-2000.  Ann London Scott Award for Legislative Excellence, Maryland Chapter of the National Organization for Women, 1978; Certificate of Merit, NAACP, 1978; Outstanding Member Award, 1978, Meritorious Award, 1980, Dedicated Service Award, 1984, American Association of University Women; Common Cause Award, 1979; Montgomery County Focus Women Award, 1981; Public Service Award, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce, 1982; Leadership Award, Maryland Association of Counties in 1983.  Member, Kensington-Wheaton Democratic Club, Women's Suburban Democratic Club, Women's National Democratic Club, American Association of University Women.

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