Minn. Stat. § 375.62

Unless a county board has elected to exclude any or all positions otherwise subject to merit systems established pursuant to sections 12.22, subdivision 3 , 256.012 , and 387.31 to 387.45 , from the jurisdiction of the personnel department, the provisions of sections 12.22, subdivision 3 , 256.012 , and 387.31 to 387.45 and any rules promulgated pursuant to those sections shall be superseded insofar as they are inconsistent with sections 375.66 to 375.71 , but no positions subject to merit systems established pursuant to sections 12.22, subdivision 3 , and 256.012 , shall be removed from existing merit system coverage and placed under a personnel department established pursuant to sections 375.56 to 375.71 , until that personnel department is certified in accordance with the United States Office of Personnel Management's standards for a merit system of personnel administration. Nothing in section 387.43 , shall be construed to prohibit the inclusion of sheriff's department personnel in a personnel system established pursuant to sections 375.56 to 375.69 .