N.Y. Pub. Auth. Law § 1500-r

§ 1500-r. Defense and indemnification. The authority shall not execute\nany of its powers, except as necessary to commence its corporate\nexistence, until the authority confers upon its members the provisions\nof section eighteen of the public officers law, pursuant to subdivision\ntwo of such section; provided, however, that nothing contained within\nthis section shall be deemed to permit the authority to extend the\nprovisions of section eighteen of the public officers law upon any\nindependent contractor.\n