In response to several court decisions of the 1970s, Congress enacted an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This amendment, Public Law 95-555 (entitled "Pregnancy Sex Discrimination, Prohibition"), states that discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex. According to this law, requiring leaves of absence to be taken by pregnant teachers before they are actually unable to work is illegal and refusing to pay disability benefits to pregnant teachers who are unable to work is also illegal. This law could add substantially to the costs of disability insurance coverage, sick leave pay, and hospitalization benefits. (Author/PGD)