§ 3643. Defense and indemnification. The corporation shall not execute
any of its powers, including the special powers authorized by section
thirty-six hundred thirty-one of this title, 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 corporation to extend the provisions of section eighteen of
the public officers law to any independent contractor.