Jerry Brown signs cheerleader, beer tasting bills

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation making cheerleaders of professional sports teams employees, his office announced Wednesday.

Assembly Bill 202, by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, will make cheerleaders eligible for minimum wage and other labor protections.

Gonzalez, who was a cheerleader at Stanford University, introduced the bill after several lawsuits, including one against the Oakland Raiders football team, challenged their designation of cheerleaders as independent contractors. The bill applies to all professional sports teams headquartered in California.

None of the state’s professional sports teams registered formal opposition to the measure, which was supported by labor unions. Brown, who was a cheerleader in high school, signed the bill without comment.

The measure is one of 18 bills Brown announced signing Wednesday. Among others, Brown approved legislation permitting beer vendors to offer tastings at farmers markets in their areas.

Assembly Bill 774, by Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, follows legislation Brown signed last year permitting breweries to get licenses to sell beer at farmers markets.

This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 1:56 PM.