Republican gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger today will deliver a speech in Sacramento announcing, among other things, support for a constitutional amendment that experts believe will broaden public access to government meetings and records.

Moreover, he will say that as governor he would not sign any bill that has not received a public hearing in both houses of the Legislature.

Schwarzenegger supports one pending measure that would put open-government protections in the state constitution, but said he would push to expand it to the Legislature.

While SCA 1 does not necessarily expand access to records and meetings beyond current law and court interpretations, proponents believe a constitutional provision would give the public far more legal standing when battling local and state agencies for access.

The amended measure cleared the Senate unanimously and is awaiting final action in the Assembly. If passed by the Legislature, it would go on the next statewide ballot.

But under pressure from lawmakers considering SCA 1, open-government groups agreed to exclude the Legislature’s meetings and caucuses from its provisions.

If elected, Schwarzenegger would take the matter to voters via an initiative, bypassing the Legislature, according to aides.

Jim Knox, executive director of California Common Cause, predicted Schwarzenegger would succeed with such an initiative.

“Obviously, I think it’s a good idea and if it were on the ballot, the public would support it,” Knox said.

And Knox praised Schwarzenegger for targeting measures that are hatched in the closing hours of legislative sessions and approved without public hearings. Common Cause has tracked such measures in the past and called on Gov. Gray Davis to veto them.