SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A Sacramento lawmaker has become the new leader of the state Senate.

Sen. Darrell Steinberg took the oath of office before a small group of well-wishers Sunday.

The 49-year-old was elected to the post of Senate president pro tempore by his colleagues in February.

Steinberg, who once served on the Sacramento City Council, is in his second year in the Senate.

He succeeds Don Perata, who was termed out of office last month.