Section 3000.3031 - Authority established(a) A body corporate and politic to be known as the Regional Renaissance Authority is established as a special purpose areawide unit of local government pursuant to section 7 of Article IX of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, exercising powers as a unit of local government under this article and having territorial limits that encompass the geographic areas of the participating counties. The exercise by the authority of the powers conferred by this article is hereby declared to be and shall for all purposes be deemed and held to be the performance of an essential public function.(b) The authority shall be deemed to be established at the time set forth in section 3054(e) . (c) Once established, the authority shall continue in existence perpetually.(d) It is declared to be the intent of the General Assembly that the authority and its board members, officers and employes shall enjoy sovereign and official immunity, as provided in 1 Pa.C.S. § 2310 (relating to sovereign immunity reaffirmed; specific waiver) and shall remain immune from suit except as provided by and subject to the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 85 Subchs. A (relating to general provisions) and B (relating to actions against Commonwealth parties). Notwithstanding the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 8525 (relating to legal assistance), the authority, through its legal counsel, shall defend actions brought against the authority or its board members, officers and employes when acting within the scope of their official duties.(e) Members of the board shall not be liable personally on the bonds or other obligations of the authority, and the rights of creditors shall be solely against the authority.1955, August 9, P.L. 323, No. 130, § 3031, added 1997, June 18, P.L. 179, No. 18, § 4, imd. effective.