(a)
Upon receipt of an application for a license and the applicable fee, the board shall make a thorough investigation to determine whether the applicant is qualified for the license being sought. The board shall also determine whether this article has been complied with, and shall investigate all matters directly related to the issuance of the license that may affect the public welfare.
(b)
The board shall not investigate matters connected with the operation of a premises other than those matters solely related to the furnishing of dangerous drugs or dangerous devices that might adversely affect the public welfare.
(c)
The board shall deny an application for a license if the applicant does not qualify for the license being sought.
(d)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board may request any information it deems necessary to complete the application investigation required by this section, and a request for information that the board deems necessary in carrying out this section in any application or related form devised by the board shall not be required to be adopted by regulation pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).