The Butler Transit Authority approved an employee travel policy that requires staff to report out-of-state travel as a precaution to avoid spreading COVID-19.

The policy, unanimously adopted by the authority board Tuesday, discourages nonessential travel out of the state and requires employees who leave the state to report the trip to executive director John Paul, who will determine if the employee should self quarantine for 14 days.

Gov. Tom Wolf has issued a recommendation that residents traveling to areas hard hit by the pandemic should self quarantine when they return to Pennsylvania, but that recommendation could become a mandate, said solicitor Rebecca Black.

She said the authority can’t prohibit employees from traveling. Those who do might have to use their personal or sick time to quarantine unless they test positive for the virus, Black said.

The policy will remain in place until Wolf lifts the COVID-19 emergency declaration he ordered, she said.