§ 2642-o. Defense and indemnification. 1. The authority shall not
execute any of its powers except as necessary to commence its corporate
existence, until it has elected to make the provision of section
eighteen of the public officers law applicable to its employees (as such
term is defined in 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.

2. Neither the members of the authority, nor any participating county,
municipality, officer or employee acting on the authority's behalf,
while acting within the scope of his, her or its authority, shall be
subject to any personal liability resulting from the construction,
maintenance or operation of any of the properties of the authority or
from carrying out any of the powers expressly given in this title;
provided, however, that this shall not be held to apply to any
independent contractor.