N.Y. Pub. Auth. Law § 3618

§ 3618. Defense and indemnification. The corporation shall not execute\nany of its powers, including the special powers authorized by section\nthirty-six hundred six of this title, except as necessary to commence\nits corporate existence, until the town by local resolution has elected\nto make the provision of section eighteen of the public officers law\napplicable to employees of the corporation (as such term is defined in\nsection eighteen of the public officers law) pursuant to subdivision two\nof such section; provided, however, that nothing contained within this\nsection shall be deemed to permit the corporation to extend the\nprovisions of section eighteen of the public officers law upon any\nindependent contractor.\n