(a) An authority shall insure its officers and employees from liability arising from the use, operation, or maintenance of equipment that is used or may be used in connection with the laying out, construction, or maintenance of the authority’s transportation projects.
(b) Insurance coverage under this section must be provided by the purchase of a policy of liability insurance from a reliable insurance company authorized to do business in this state. The form of the policy must be approved by the commissioner of insurance.
(c) This section is not a waiver of immunity of the authority or the counties in an authority from liability for the torts or negligence of an officer or employee of an authority.
(d) In this section, “equipment” includes an automobile, motor truck, trailer, aircraft, motor grader, roller, tractor, tractor power mower, locomotive, rail car, and other power equipment.