§ 1500-r. Defense and indemnification. The authority shall not execute
any of its powers, except as necessary to commence its corporate
existence, until the authority confers upon its members the provisions
of section eighteen of the public officers law, pursuant to subdivision
two of such section; provided, however, that nothing contained within
this section shall be deemed to permit the authority to extend the
provisions of section eighteen of the public officers law upon any
independent contractor.