Education

• Enactment of the State Board of Education regulation to implement Keystone Exams for all high school students
• "Education Empowerment" legislation for poorly performing school districts in the state, including the Harrisburg City School District, which was placed under control of the Mayor of Harrisburg due to poor academic performance of the district.
• Creation of the South Central Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Program, Inc., a scholarship organization that provides tuition assistance to needy families in the region.
• Passage of Act 157 of 2002, requiring schools to display the American flag in classrooms and to offer either the Pledge of Allegiance or the playing of the National Anthem at the start of each school day.
• Passage of Act 66 of 1996, placing tighter control on sabbatical leave for teachers, administrators and other employees.
• Advocate for teacher re-certification and continuing education and professional development (Act 48 of 1999) and sabbatical reform (Act 66 of 1996).
• Former member of the Commission on Academic Standards, which developed rigorous and clearly focused academic standards

Urban Revitalization & Environment

• Passage of the first laws in decades to fight urban blight, slumlords, and absentee landlords.  Pennsylvania neighborhoods were improved by Acts 5, 35, 69, 70, and 105 of 1998 and Act 99 of 2000.
• Authored the Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) law, balancing both citizen and business interests.
• Sponsored legislation giving municipalities and citizens greater say over decisions on landfills.
• Supporter of the HACC Midtown Campus, designed to expand its presence and opportunities in the city of Harrisburg

Economic Development & Transportation

• Passage of Act 60 of 1997, divesting control of Harrisburg International and Capital City Airports from the state to a local, municipal authority.
• Fought to keep the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency within Harrisburg City limits.
• Lead local efforts to enhance transportation access and create new jobs in Derry Township with the extension of Hersheypark Drive and construction of the new Hershey Foods distribution warehouse.
• TecPort initiative to create the Business Center on the 102-acre former AMP campus.
• Funding for Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, National Civil War Museum, and the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, and the Fort Halifax Park
• Highway and bridge improvements including the much needed Dauphin Narrows bypass, reconstructed Paxtang Parkway, and State Route 283 ramps.
• Secured state funding for facilities providing indigent care including: Capital Region Health System at Hamilton Health Center, Pinnacle Health System, and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
• Passage of Act 21 of 1999, the natural gas deregulation legislation that provides customer choice to families and small businesses.

Public Safety/Protection & Judicial Reform

• Passage of Act 30 of 2007 which severes the tie-in between federal and state judicial salaries, a connection established in the inexcusable 2005 pay raise
• Author of the "Property Rights Protection Act," historic legislation sighed into law in 2006 and designed to provide greater protection to owners of private property from governmental authorities who abuse the use of eminent domain powers
• Passage of Act 57 of 2002, Joint and Several Liability, the archaic legal doctrine whereby "deep pockets" paid most – or all - damages in legal cases even when defendants had little actual responsibility.
• Leading efforts to reduce high medical malpractice insurance premiums, eliminate frivolous lawsuits, and set reasonable caps on non-economic damages (or "pain and suffering").
• Passage of Act 119 of 1996, "Jen and Dave's Law," legislation that established a statewide information system to protect children in custody situations.
• Passage of Act 136 of 1998, legislation that allows professional counselors and marriage and family therapists to be licensed for the first time in Pennsylvania and affording consumers the resources they need to choose quality care.
• Outspoken House Judiciary Committee Chair who lead numerous judicial and crime issues, including the successful Special Session on Crime in 1995; authoring laws creating the "Three Strikes" penalty, the Office of the Victim Advocate, and several measures protecting against elder abuse.
• As Prosecutor for the House of Representatives, lead the successful impeachment of then-state Supreme Court Justice Rolf Larsen.

Awards & Recognitions

• Piccola was named a "Guardian of Small Business" by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) for his outstanding voting record on behalf of Pennsylvania's small business owners in the 2007-08 legislative session of the General Assembly. (10/7/08)
• Piccola was awarded the first-ever "Cyber Families Leadership Award" by the Pennsylvania Families for Public Cyber Schools for efforts during his tenure in the Legislature on behalf of the Commonwealth's public cyber schools. (5/13/08)
• Piccola was honored by the Dauphin County Library System with the 2006 "Impact Award" for his support of public library service and his work in securing the release of state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project funds for area libraries. (1/4/07)
• Piccola received the "Joseph Siegman Award," which is presented annually by the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR) to the legislator who puts forth the greatest effort to secure consideration of school retiree concerns.  PASR recognized Piccola for unveiling and securing passage of legislation that would require the Public School Employees' Retirement System to continue making certain information available to legitimate active and retired school employee organizations and strengthening prohibitions on the release of private information from the records of Pennsylvania's 400,000 active and retired public school employees. (10/8/06)
• Piccola was the recipient of the 2006 Catalyst Award from the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and the Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) in recognition of his substantial career achievements serving the citizens of the greater Harrisburg region and Pennsylvania. Specifically, Piccola was acknowledged for his work to reform the Harrisburg School District, eliminate frivolous lawsuits and bring overall tort reform, medical malpractice relief to keep our hospitals and doctors open for business, and advocating for the creation of jobs and job opportunities. (3/21/06)
• Piccola was named "Legislator of the Year" by the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society for his leadership and commitment to supporting excellence in medicine including efforts to reform the Commonwealth's lawsuit abuse crisis. (11/17/05)
• Piccola was the recipient of the 2005 Legislator Recognition Award from the Pennsylvania Chapter for the American College of Emergency Physicians for his contributions to issues relating to emergency medicine such as medical liability reform, retention of the motorcycle helmet law, and seatbelt safety. (4/19/05)
• Piccola was named "Guardian of Small Business" by the National Federation of Independent Business for his outstanding voting record on behalf of Pennsylvania's small business owners for the 2003-2004 Legislative Session (9/28/04).
• Piccola received the 2004 Pennsylvania Government Leader of the Year Award from the Harrisburg School District and Mayor Stephen Reed for his contributions to public education and community development (10/18/04)
• Piccola honored for his leadership by the Pennsylvania State Association of Elected County Officials (PSAECO) for furthering cooperation between state and local government. (3/11/04)
• Piccola received 2003 Government Leader of the Year Award from the Harrisburg Regional Chamber for his continued leadership in creating jobs and job opportunities including efforts to reform Pennsylvania's Lawsuit Abuse system, to protect business from increasing tax liability and to advocate for the continued development of business in the Commonwealth. (12/19/03)
• Piccola named Legislator of the Year by the Pennsylvania College of Internal Medicine (PCIM) in honor of his leadership in fighting for both patients and physicians to solve the state's medical malpractice crisis. (10/28/03)
• Piccola received Special Recognition Award from the Fair Housing Council of the Capitol Region, Inc. for his contributions and long-term support of housing initiatives and urban improvement in Central Pennsylvania. (6/6/03)
• Piccola awarded the William J. Van Essen Award by the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA), which honors individuals outside the optometric profession who have significantly served the welfare of the public.  Piccola's contributions have included civil justice and education reform, urban improvement, obtaining state grants for several community improvement projects, and obtaining state assistance for highway and bridge improvements.  (6/4/03)
• Piccola received 2001 President's Award from the Harrisburg Young Professionals for his work on behalf of the city and region.  (1/26/01)
• Piccola received national honor from the American School Counselor's Association for leading the way on a law that allows professional counselors and marriage and family therapists to be licensed by the Commonwealth. (6/28/00)
• Piccola honored by the Pennsylvania Mental Health Counselors for leading the way on a new law allowing professional counselors and marriage and family therapists to be licensed by the Commonwealth. (10/23/99)
• Piccola honored by Common Cause/PA as Champion of Good Government for his dedicated efforts to build safeguards into Pennsylvania's justice system (passage of the Independent Counsel law to reduce the corruption in the Office of Attorney General and District Attorneys' offices throughout the Commonwealth).  (10/5/99)
• Piccola received the Legislative Service Award from the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities (PLCM) in recognition of his fight against absentee landlords or "slumlords." (3/17/98)
• Recipient of Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Businesses (Pennsylvania Chapter).
• Award from the Pennsylvania Optometric Association for dedication towards quality eye-care for citizens of Pennsylvania. (11/96)
• Dedicated Service Award from the Susquehanna Township Republicans. (9/96)
• Leadership Award from the Pennsylvania Coalition against Domestic Violence. (10/94)
• Dauphin County Police Chiefs Citizen Support Award. (1994)
• Awarded 33rd degree of Freemasonry for significant contributions to humanity and outstanding service to Freemasonry.

Senate Education Committee Update - Fall 2011

PICCOLA’S TV PROGRAM TO FEATURE ARMSTRONG VALLEY VINEYARD & WINERY IN HALIFAX