What's happening
This bill requires professional sports teams in New York to provide cheerleaders with the same employment rights and protections as other employees.
Why it matters
Addresses longstanding disparities. By explicitly requiring that cheerleaders receive the same rights and protections as other employees, this bill aims to correct a history of cheerleaders being treated as independent contractors, often resulting in lower pay, fewer benefits, and less workplace protection.
Expands the legal definition of cheerleaders. The bill defines "cheerleader" broadly to include anyone performing acrobatics, dance, gymnastics, ice skating, or similar acts for a professional sports franchise, potentially covering a wide range of performers beyond traditional cheer squads.
Enables access to benefits and protections. Cheerleaders would gain eligibility for minimum wage, overtime pay, workers’ compensation, anti-discrimination protections, and other rights under New York labor law, which could significantly improve their job security and working conditions.
Could impact team operations and finances. Sports teams may need to revise contracts, payroll practices, and workplace policies to comply, potentially increasing operational costs and altering how cheerleading squads are managed.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Cheerleaders at Work
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 25
11 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to labor
- Referred to labor
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1181
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROZIC, BRONSON, DAVILA, HEVESI, HUNTER, HYNDMAN, LUPARDO, McDONOUGH, PEOPLES-STOKES, ROSENTHAL, SEAWRIGHT, SIMON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing the cheerleaders' fair pay act
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 219-b to read as follows:
§ 219-b. Application to cheerleaders. 1. A professional sports team based in this state that employs professional athletes who have entered into professional sports-services contracts, as defined by subdivision eight of section eight hundred ninety-nine-a of the general business law, and that utilizes the services of cheerleaders during its exhibitions or games, shall provide such cheerleaders with all of the rights, benefits and protections conferred to its employees by this chapter for all services provided for the benefit of the team.
2. For the purposes of this section, "cheerleader" means an individual who performs acrobatics, dance, gymnastic exercises, ice skating, or other performances in promotion of a professional sports franchise identified in subdivision one of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03382-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.