* (a) As soon as practicable after a first encounter with a person who reasonably appears to a law enforcement agency or a district attorney's office to be a human trafficking victim, that agency or office shall notify the office of temporary and disability assistance and the division of criminal justice services that such person may be eligible for services under this article. * NB Effective until January 19, 2016 * (a) As soon as practicable after a first encounter with a person who reasonably appears to a law enforcement agency, district attorney's office, or an established provider of social or legal services designated by the office of temporary and disability assistance, the office for the prevention of domestic violence or the office of victim services to be a human trafficking victim, that law enforcement agency or district attorney's office shall notify the office of temporary and disability assistance and the division of criminal justice services that such person may be eligible for services under this article or, in the case of an established provider of social or legal services, shall notify the office of temporary and disability assistance and the division of criminal justice services if such victim consents to seeking services pursuant to this article. * NB Effective January 19, 2016

1. (b) Upon receipt of such a notification, the division of criminal justice services, in consultation with the office of temporary and disability assistance and the referring agency or office, shall make a preliminary assessment of whether such victim or possible victim appears to meet the criteria for certification as a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons as defined in section 7105 of title 22 of the United States Code (Trafficking Victims Protection) or appears to be otherwise eligible for any federal, state or local benefits and services. If it is determined that the victim appears to meet such criteria, the office of temporary and disability assistance shall report the finding to the victim, and to the referring law enforcement agency or district attorney's office, and may assist that agency or office in having such victim receive services from a case management provider who may be under contract with the office of temporary and disability assistance, or from any other available source. If the victim or possible victim is under the age of eighteen, the office of temporary and disability assistance also shall notify the local department of social services in the county where the child was found.