§ 915. 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 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.