California bill seeks to make cheerleaders team employees

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California lawmakers are sending Gov. Jerry Brown a bill making it clear that professional cheerleaders are sports team employees.

The bill, approved by the state Senate on Monday, would require that cheerleaders be paid at least minimum wage if they work for professional sports teams based in California. AB202 says they would have to be paid for overtime and sick leave, the same as other employees.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez said many teams currently treat their cheerleaders like glorified volunteers and that they deserve the same level of respect and dignity as other team employees.

The San Diego Democrat's bill responds to recent lawsuits filed by cheerleaders for the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills.

The bill was passed by a bipartisan 26-8 vote.