Bill Seeks To Create Retirement Plans For Private Sector Workers

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Maryland lawmakers are sponsoring a measure to make retirement plans available to private sector workers who are not currently covered by employer-sponsored plans.

Sen. James Rosapepe, Sen. Richard Madaleno and Del. Tom Hucker are sponsoring legislation. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday morning before the Senate Pensions Subcommittee.

A press conference has been scheduled for noon Thursday to talk about the measure. The lawmakers will be joined by SEIU, AARP and Maryland Business, a small business advocacy organization.

Under the bill, Maryland private sector employers who do not currently offer a retirement plan to their employees would be required to offer employee-funded retirement plans. A state-sponsored, nonprofit plan would be available to employees in the firms.