§ 1570-q. Defense and indemnification. 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 such section) 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.