Bill Banning Redskins Name Would Cost School $60,000; Unclear If State Will Pick Up Tab

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — California lawmakers want to ban schools from using the Redskins name for teams and mascots.

Currently there are only four California high schools using the name—Gustine, Calaveras, Chowchilla, and Tulare high schools.

The name is displayed proudly on the Calaveras High scoreboard, but leaders say if the bill is passed, it would be an example of over-legislation.

The push started against the NFL's Washington Redskins, but it's not just the professional team that's facing backlash.

But Calaveras High Superintendent Mark Campbell says many other aren't offended by their school's mascot, a name he says is treated with respect.

"Always very positively portrayed, our students are very respectful there's no war cries and war chants, we stay away from caricatures," he said.

Regardless, Assembly Bill 30 would force his school to do away with the Redskins name.

Bill author Assemblyman Luis Alejo said the following: "This is part of a national movement and now is the time for us here in California to end the use of this derogatory term in our public schools."

The local California Valley Miwok tribe supports the bill.

Campbell says it would cost $60,000 to change everything from the uniforms to the scoreboard. That's $60,000 he says the district doesn't have. The bill would include some help from the state, but it's unclear how much.

"We've seen a lot of unfunded mandates coming from the state before, and this could be another one of those, and frankly with our financial situation we can't pull this off," he said.

If the bill passes, the school would have to be rid of the name by 2017.