N.Y. Pub. Auth. Law § 1570-q

§ 1570-q. Defense and indemnification. The authority shall not execute\nany of its powers except as necessary to commence its corporate\nexistence, until it has elected to make the provision of section\neighteen of the public officers law applicable to its employees (as such\nterm is defined in such section) pursuant to subdivision two of such\nsection; provided, however, that nothing contained within this section\nshall be deemed to permit the authority to extend the provisions of\nsection eighteen of the public officers law upon any independent\ncontractor.\n