The Georgia Correctional Industries Administration, as a body corporate and politic, and as an instrumentality and public corporation of this state, may, at its discretion, participate in any program of self-insurance administered by the commissioner of administrative services pursuant to Code Section 45-9-4; and the commissioner of administrative services is authorized to extend liability coverage under such program of self-insurance to the officers, officials, or employees of the Georgia Correctional Industries Administration in the same manner as is presently or may hereafter be provided for officers, officials, or employees of any agency, board, bureau, commission, department, or authority pursuant to Code Section 45-9-4.