Assemblymember Gail Pellerin was elected to represent California’s 28th Assembly District, which includes parts of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties, in 2022, quickly establishing herself as a dedicated advocate for mental health reform. With a background as Santa Cruz County’s chief elections official, a position she held for nearly three decades, Pellerin brings extensive public service experience to her legislative role.
Pellerin’s commitment to mental health advocacy is deeply personal. She became an outspoken proponent for suicide prevention following the loss of her husband in 2018. She serves on the board of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and has been recognized for her efforts to improve mental health services.
In the Assembly, Pellerin authored AB 3221 (Department of Managed Health Care: review of records), aimed at enhancing the Department of Managed Health Care’s ability to enforce mental health parity laws by requiring health plans to provide digitally searchable data, thereby streamlining investigations. The bill passed in 2024. The same year, she also introduced AB 3260 (Healthcare coverage: reviews and grievances), which sought to protect patients when health plans fail to respond to care requests promptly; although it passed the Assembly, it did not advance in the Senate.
Beyond legislation, Pellerin organizes community events like the annual “Care Fair” during Suicide Prevention Month, offering resources and wellness activities and recognizing local mental health advocates.
