Bill Requires Sports Teams Classify Cheerleaders as Employees

Professional sports teams in California would be required to classify cheerleaders as employees, making them eligible for labor law protections and entitled to workers' compensation benefits, under a bill introduced by a San Diego Democrat. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez on Thursday introduced AB 202 that would declare cheerleaders are entitled to the same rights and benefits offered to any other employee, regardless of the terms and conditions under which the cheerleaders perform. The bill defines a cheerleader as "an individual who performs acrobatics, dance or gymnastics exerc...