Section 2642-O. Defense and indemnification

1. 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.
    2. Neither the members of the authority, nor any participating county,
  municipality, officer or employee  acting  on  the  authority's  behalf,
  while  acting  within  the  scope of his, her or its authority, shall be
  subject to any  personal  liability  resulting  from  the  construction,
  maintenance  or  operation  of any of the properties of the authority or
  from carrying out any of the  powers  expressly  given  in  this  title;
  provided,  however,  that  this  shall  not  be  held  to  apply  to any
  independent contractor.