The Department of Labor’s final rule, exempting state plans from ERISA, paves the way for mandatory payroll deduction retirement savings plans to take effect. A number of states, including California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, and Oregon, have enacted programs that are mandated for firms without qualified retirement plans; they were waiting for DOL action before putting the plans into effect. A list of state-based retirement plans for the private sector can be found at the Pension Rights Center.