This bill amends various sections of Minnesota Statutes to enhance the coordination between conservation officers and county sheriffs in the enforcement of natural resource laws. A new subdivision is added to section 84.028, establishing that conservation officers must conduct their investigation and enforcement activities under the supervision of the sheriff's office in the respective county. The bill specifies that the sheriff's office has the authority to manage the conservation officer's schedule and requires that conservation officers be accompanied by a sheriff or deputy during certain law enforcement activities, unless specific exceptions apply.

Additionally, the bill introduces conforming changes across multiple sections, ensuring that the new coordination requirements are reflected in the existing legal framework. For instance, several sections now include language that ties the powers and duties of enforcement officers to the new coordination requirements with sheriffs. This includes provisions related to the seizure of property, the authority to issue citations, and the powers of special conservation officers. Overall, the bill aims to improve the effectiveness of natural resource law enforcement by fostering collaboration between conservation officers and local law enforcement agencies.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 84.028, 84.0835, 84.0895, 86B.801, 97A.205, 97A.215, 97A.221, 97A.223, 97A.225, 97A.241, 97B.002, 97B.065