Bill would let auditing firms collect state's overpayments

A bill passed in the state Senate on Thursday that would allow private firms to help the state recover overpayments.

Sen. Mitch Seabaugh, R-Sharpsburg, proposes in Senate Bill 8 that private firms contract with the state to perform audits and collect from vendors any overpayments Georgia had made to them. The firms would be able to keep up to 20 percent of the money it collects. The bill passed 32-16.