Upon receipt of the application, the Commissioner shall cause an investigation to be made of the activities, services, and facilities of the applicant and of his character and reputation or, if the applicant is an association, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, the character and reputation of its officers and agents, and upon receipt of the initial application, an investigation of the applicant’s financial responsibility. The financial records of an applicant shall not be subject to inspection if the applicant submits an operating budget and at least one credit reference. In the case of child welfare agencies and assisted living facilities, the character and reputation investigation upon application shall include background checks pursuant to § 63.2-1721; however, a children’s residential facility shall comply with the background check requirements contained in § 63.2-1726. In the case of a children’s residential facility, the character and reputation investigation shall also include consideration of any complaints, enforcement actions, or sanctions against a license to operate a children’s residential facility held by the applicant in another state. Records that contain confidential proprietary information furnished to the Department pursuant to this section shall be exempt from disclosure pursuant to subdivision 4 of § 2.2-3705.5.