This bill proposes changes to Minnesota's natural resources enforcement framework. It mandates that conservation officers coordinate their investigative and enforcement activities with county sheriffs. Key provisions include:

1. Sheriff Supervision: Conservation officers must conduct their enforcement activities under the supervision of the county sheriff where the activities take place.
2. Scheduling Control: If a conservation officer’s patrol area is within a single county, the sheriff's office will have full authority over the officer’s schedule, including shift assignments and overtime. If the patrol area covers multiple counties, the relevant sheriffs will jointly manage scheduling.
3. Required Accompaniment: Unless waived by the sheriff or prohibited by federal law, conservation officers must be accompanied by a sheriff or deputy when conducting investigations or law enforcement activities, with exceptions for:
   • Activities explicitly permitted in existing statutes.
   • Witnessing a violation that does not require further investigation.
   • Preventing substantial harm to human life.
   • Responding to requests from other law enforcement agencies.
4. Conforming Amendments: The bill amends several statutes to ensure consistency with these new requirements, affecting laws related to game wardens, search and seizure authority, and various enforcement operations.

The bill effectively increases sheriff oversight over conservation officers and limits their independent law enforcement powers unless working directly with sheriffs.