State lawmakers met today to discuss the possibility of increasing criminal penalties for those found guilty of cheating on SAT exams.

The meeting comes amid an SAT cheating scandal in Nassau County where 20 people have been charged.

Currently, cheating students only face getting their scores tossed out and being forced to take the test again. The state Senate Committee on Higher Education agreed that it should be a misdemeanor to cheat on standardized tests, with hefty fines proposed as a penalty. The committee says it hopes to have legislation drafted by next week. A hearing on the proposals has been scheduled for Jan. 24.

Attorneys: Plea deals possible in SAT cheating scandalStudent charged in SAT cheating ring to appear on TV DA Spota sends letters to Suffolk schools in wake of SAT scandal 2 additional students surrender in SAT cheating scandal Additional students to surrender in SAT cheating scandal Lawmakers: Changes needed to stop cheating on SATs