Concerns over state lawmakers attempts to redirect Douglas J. Johnson Economic Protection Funds to cover other budgetary needs led IRRRB Commissioner Tony Sertich to explore how to protect the agency’s resources, including the DJJ Fund. In June 2013, Sertich appointed a citizen task force and gave it a major assignment: The Better IRRRB Task Force is charged with protecting IRRRB resources, improving the agency and helping it evolve with the times.
The Task Force held in-depth meetings monthly from July through December 2013; three subgroups charged with more detailed discussion and research also met to study IRRRB governance, the agency’s structure and the DJJ Fund. Task Force facilitators conducted interviews with 26 former IRRRB commissioners, board members and regional partners to gather perspectives on what the agency does well and what it might do differently.
The Task Force issued a final report in late December 2013.