The state Senate approves a bill to privatize part of the state's child welfare services.

Under the bill, sponsored by Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford), foster care, adoption services, and case management would be bid out to non-profits or other organizations. The state would continue to investigate allegations of abuse.

Unterman says it was the last year's case of 10-year-old Emani Moss that made it evident that change was needed.

"Instead of schooling, she was literally starved to death over a matter of months," she says.

Moss's father and step-mother now face the death penalty in Gwinnett County for her murder.

But Democrats complain Moss was not in state custody at the time of her death and says $51 million in cuts since 2009 can be blamed for the problems in the current system.

"When you pay people pitiful wages and give them massive case loads, you can expect people not to stay… 28 positions are now open across our state," says Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta).

She believes more should be done to fix the current system without bringing in outside agencies.

Any change to privatization would be contingent on the state receiving a federal waiver.

The bill passed 31-18, mostly along party lines, and now goes to the House.