AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR RETIREMENT OR INACTIVATION OF TICONDEROGA CLASS CRUISERS OR DOCK LANDING SHIPS.

SEC. 1026. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR RETIREMENT OR INACTIVATION OF TICONDEROGA CLASS CRUISERS OR DOCK LANDING SHIPS. (a) Limitation on Availability of Funds.— (1) In general.—Except as otherwise provided in this section, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense by this Act or the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-66) may be obligated or expended to retire, prepare to retire, inactivate, or place in storage a cruiser or dock landing ship. (2) Use of smosf funds.—As provided by section 8107 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (Public Law 113-76), funds in the Ship, Modernization, Operations, and Sustainment Fund may be used only for 11 Ticonderoga-class cruisers (CG 63 through CG 73) and 3 dock landing ships (LSD 41, LSD 42, and LSD 46). (b) Modernization of Ticonderoga Class Cruisers and Dock Landing Ships.—The Secretary of the Navy shall begin the upgrade of two cruisers specified in (a)(2) during fiscal year 2015, including— (1) hull, mechanical, and electrical upgrades; and (2) combat systems modernizations. (c) Requirements and Limitations on Modernization.— (1) Requirements.—During the period of modernization under subsection (b) of the vessels specified in subsection (a)(2), the Secretary of the Navy shall— (A) continue to maintain the vessels in a manner that will ensure the ability of the vessels to reenter the operational fleet; (B) conduct planning activities to ensure scheduled and deferred maintenance and modernization work items are identified and included in maintenance availability work packages; and (C) conduct hull, mechanical, and electrical and combat system modernization necessary to achieve a service life of 40 years. (2) Limitations.—During the period of modernization under subsection (b) of the vessels specified in subsection (a)(2), the Secretary may not— (A) permit removal or cannibalization of equipment or systems to support operational vessels, other than— (i) rotatable pool equipment; and (ii) equipment or systems necessary to support urgent operational requirements (but only with the approval of the Secretary of Defense); or (B) make any irreversible modifications that will prohibit the vessel from reentering the operational fleet. [Subsection (d) was repealed by section 813(g) of division A of Public Law 115–232.] (e) Repeal of Superseded Limitation.—Section 1023 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-66; 127 Stat. 846) is repealed.