N.Y. Pub. Auth. Law § 2642-o

§ 2642-o. Defense and indemnification. 1. The authority shall not\nexecute any 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 section eighteen of the public officers law) pursuant\nto subdivision two of such section; provided, however, that nothing\ncontained within this section shall be deemed to permit the authority to\nextend the provisions of section eighteen of the public officers law\nupon any independent contractor.\n 2. Neither the members of the authority, nor any participating county,\nmunicipality, officer or employee acting on the authority's behalf,\nwhile acting within the scope of his, her or its authority, shall be\nsubject to any personal liability resulting from the construction,\nmaintenance or operation of any of the properties of the authority or\nfrom carrying out any of the powers expressly given in this title;\nprovided, however, that this shall not be held to apply to any\nindependent contractor.\n