What does a typical weekend drill look like for contracted ROTC cadets utilizing the SMP program?

There really isn't a "typical" weekend drill, you can get some pretty wild responses. I've seen them stuck in an office and told not to leave...

And also seen one be given full PL authority and duties.

Depends on the unit, the Commander, and the Cadet. If your Commander wants or needs you to have responsibility, if the unit has a use for you or an officer available for you to shadow, if -you- are competent and able to handle tasks assigned. I'd talk to the unit you'd prospectively be joining, you'll get much more relevant answers than from the world at large.

It really depends on where you go. When I entered the Guard after being Active for 8 years and taking a 5 year break, I may have gotten lucky... or not, depending on how you think about it. I reupped before contracting into ROTC during grad school so I was an enlisted fister with my unit first for a few months. Then I became a cadet at the same unit, so I stayed with the fisters. This was good and bad, got called CaDOT, CadIDIOT, f'kin traitor... you name it. Now they moved up to Delaware, Ohio and consolidated with the rest of the fisters in the state. Then they tell me that more than likely, I'm going to get branched field artillery, so I'll be back with them in December after I commission, but as a 2LT. Crazy story...

But to answer your question, drill can be what you make it. At our unit, the cadets (there are 14...) shadow all of the LTs and rotate every month if they don't have a branch. At other places I've seen cadets just work in the training room or supply the entire time either filing paperwork or helping with gear. Be proactive and show your commander that you're not an idiot and he can be a good LOR for later on. Good luck!

There are really two different answers.
1. You will be shadowing a officer in the unit you are assigned too. That officer should mentor you in providing you guidance into their responsibilities and lessons learned.

2. You will get to a unit that really has no interest in your due to knowing you will most likely not return to that unit and will not invest in you. You may be treated like a Private and be given remedial tasks to perform.

In my time in the guard I have seem number two happen more than number one.