Bill filed to privatize Ga. child welfare services

ATLANTA (AP) - A bill has been filed in the state Senate that would have Georgia move toward privatizing some state child welfare services.

The bill sponsored by Republican Sens. Renee Unterman of Buford and Fran Millar of Atlanta would allow faith-based and community-based organizations to apply for "fixed-price" contracts to handle services including adoption, foster care and case management. The law would be contingent on the state receiving a federal waiver.

The bill calls for the Division of Family and Children Services to submit a plan by Jan. 1, with it being phased in over two years beginning in July 2015. The bill requires the division to monitor program operations, including performance standards.

The division has been under scrutiny recently for the handling of cases involving two children who later died.